SHOPS, pubs and restaurants still have to stay closed until April 12 under the current lockdown plans.
On Monday, restrictions will ease slightly allowing groups of six or two families of any size to meet outside, as well as the opening of some businesses.
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Pubs will be able to serve beer outside again from April 12
We are already seeing a way out of lockdown and some of the restrictions lifted on key dates over the past month.
Sticking to the opening dates promised by the Prime Minister last month has been dependent on coronavirus cases remaining under control and the vaccine rollout staying on target.
The route to unlocking the country began when students returned to England schools on March 8 and so far the rest of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown is set to remain on track.
The “Rule of Six” will be the next thing we see return from Monday, as we are able to meet in parks and private gardens, as well as outdoor sports returning too.
Hairdressers and gyms will open from April 12, and pubs will reopen for outdoor service on this date too.
Brits will be able to meet inside from May 17 while following the rule of 6 or two households, and this is when you’ll be able to sit inside pubs as well.
Working from home measures will remain in place until at least June.
Nightclubs will reopen on June 21 as the lockdown is lifted into summer.
But plans of holidays abroad have been dashed until at least July with a £5,000 fine slapped on anyone going away any earlier than that.
Businesses that can’t reopen until April 12
Before we get too ahead of ourselves as things start to ease, some business still can’t open yet.
These include:
- Clothing shops
- Homeware shops
- Toy shops
- Vehicle showrooms (other than for rental)
- Betting shops
- Tailors
- Tobacco and vape shops
- Electronic goods shops
- Mobile phone shops
- Auction houses (except for auctions of livestock or agricultural equipment)
- Market stalls selling non-essential goods
At the moment these businesses are only allowed to fulfil home deliveries and offer click and collect.
Essential shops have been open throughout lockdown and that’s because they have been deemed to sell important goods like food, medicines and DIY items for home repairs.
Other businesses that are expected to reopen on April 12 include:
- Pubs (outdoor service only)
- Restaurants (outdoor service only)
- Hairdressers
- Gyms (indoor exercising – but no classes)
- Beauty salons
- Spas
- Libraries
- Theme parks
- Drive-in cinemas
- Drive-in performances
- Zoos
- Community centres
Brits wanting to cut their lockdown locks will have to wait another two weeks for hairdressers and barbers to reopen.
Other personal care facilities that are set to welcome customers back on this date include salons and spas – but steam rooms and saunas won’t reopen until at least May.
If measures carry on the way they have been, and everything continues to look positive, then pubs and restaurants will be able to open on April 12 as well – but they’ll only be able to serve drinks outdoors.
They won’t be able to reopen fully for indoor drinking and eating for another month after this.
While pubs and restaurants are open for outdoor-use only, punters will be subject to table service, although they will be able to order takeaway pints and don’t have to buy food.
The 10pm curfew is also being scrapped.
Businesses reopening on May 17
- Pubs (indoor serving)
- Restaurants (indoor serving)
- Steam rooms
- Saunas
- Cinemas
- Bingo halls
- Bowling alleys
- Big events (with capacity)
- Sports stadiums (with capacity)
Businesses that rely on an indoor setting will be allowed to open their doors to customers again from May 17.
This will include pubs and restaurants, both of which would be allowed dine-in customers from this date.
It is understood big events and sports stadiums could be allowed, but with capacity limits in place.
Up to 10,000 people will be allowed in outdoor spaces where people can spread out, while stadiums will be limited to up to 4,000 people, or 50% capacity.
Indoor events will be capped at 1,000 people, or 50%.
Other businesses that will be allowed to reopen at this time include indoor entertainment, such as cinemas and bingo halls.
Gigs are supposed to restart from June 21, but they may be allowed to go-ahead with limits on numbers and social distancing from as early as May, especially with vaccination figures reaching higher numbers.
Businesses that can’t reopen until June 21
All other restrictions could be lifted from June 21 and Brits will be able to feel a sense of normality by July, as long as the pace of the vaccine rollout continues the way it is, and infection rates stay down.
That means nightclubs could finally be allowed to reopen and weddings and funerals should be allowed without restrictions on numbers from June 21.
By the end of July, every adult is expected to have been offered a Covid jab first dose.
Any other businesses that weren’t mentioned as part of the roadmap should be open by this point, if all goes to plan.
So far none of the dates have been threatened to be pushed back, but the roadmap can be altered by the PM if coronavirus cases start rising or the vaccine programme misses targets.
We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about “non-essential” shops reopening.
Gyms reopening explained: here’s what fitness fans should be aware of.
The PM originally told ministers there would be no backsliding on his goal of getting kids back to class from March 8 – despite a mutiny by Sage scientists.
